Addiction Treatment Statistics

With help from the Butler Center for Research, it's easy for you to stay on top of the latest developments, trends and statistics in the field of substance use disorders.

We've searched today's leading news, academic, scientific and business sources to bring you the latest information about addiction prevention, treatment and recovery initiatives and efforts.

Update July 2018

Latest Highlights:

Risks of cancer and mortality by average lifetime alcohol intake

Running (or walking briskly) away from addiction

Opioid crisis sending thousands of children into foster care

Daily cannabis use is on the rise in American adults

Bone mass may suffer when teenage girls binge drink

Teenage girls who regularly binge drink may fail to reach their peak bone mass, according to a new study published in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs. Learn more

Risks of cancer and mortality by average lifetime alcohol intake

The risk of mortality, and of developing a number of cancers, is lowest in light drinkers consuming an average of less than one drink per day across their lifetime, and the risk of some cancers increases with each additional drink per week, according to a new study. Learn more

Promising therapy for alcohol abuse

Funded by a $1.65 million grant from the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, a branch of the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the University of Rhode Island team is testing the safety and efficacy of a drug originally developed by Pfizer to treat obesity and diabetes. Learn more

Opioid epidemic responses overlook gender

Yale health experts warn that current efforts to confront the growth of opioid addiction and overdose deaths must better incorporate an understanding of how women fit into this epidemic. Learn more

Alarming trend shows first-time smoking among young adults

Millennials living more dangerously and settling down later could be creating a new generation of addicted smokers and e-cigarette users, according to the surprising new results. Learn more

Medical cannabis for epilepsy approved in FDA first

In the context of an ever-louder international debate on whether patients with severe forms of epilepsy should be allowed to use medical cannabis to manage their condition, the Food and Drug Administration have just officially approved one such drug. Learn more

Major study finds 'no evidence' that cannabis relieves chronic pain

A large study stretching over a 4-year period challenges popular beliefs, as it finds "no evidence" that cannabis use improves the symptoms of chronic pain. Learn more

Methadone and buprenorphine reduce risk of death after opioid overdose

A National Institutes of Health-funded study found that treatment of opioid use disorder with either methadone or buprenorphine following a nonfatal opioid overdose is associated with significant reductions in opioid related mortality. The research, published today in the Annals of Internal Medicine, was co-funded by the National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) and the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences, both parts of NIH. Learn more

New clinician screening tool available for substance use

The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) Clinical Trials Network has unveiled a new scientifically validated, online screening tool designed to assess a patient’s risk for substance misuse and substance use disorder, and assist the health care provider with prevention and treatment strategies. The Tobacco, Alcohol, Prescription medication, and other Substance use (TAPS) Tool is available on the NIDAMED Web Portal. Learn more

Study casts doubt on effectiveness of e-cigs for smoking cessation

A study found no evidence that smokers who used e-cigarettes and other electronic nicotine delivery systems (ENDS) in the United States were more likely to quit smoking cigarettes than smokers who do not use these products. The study, looking at 2015-2016 data, found that 90 percent of people who used both ENDS and traditional cigarettes (dual users) were still smoking one year later. Learn more

The World Health Organization Highlights Gaming Disorder

On June 18th, the World Health Organization released the new edition of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11). When Gaming Disorder was placed as a consideration in the draft for the ICD-11, it was noted that although experts across the globe have agreed on the need to be careful, thorough, and research-informed when considering the classification, not all professionals have agreed on whether problematic gaming meets its own criteria for a concerning mental health condition. Learn more

A new study in the American Journal of Preventive Medicine finds that a majority of non-metropolitan counties (65%) do not have a psychiatrist and almost half of non-metropolitan counties (47%) do not have a psychologist. Learn more

Running (or Walking Briskly) Away from Addiction

It’s no secret that exercising regularly can relieve stress, boost your mood and body image, ease depression and anxiety, and improve other psychological issues. Working up a sweat also can help you kick a substance abuse habit – and new research provides insight into the neurobiological mechanisms behind this positive effect. In a study involving animals, researchers at the University at Buffalo Research Institute on Addictions found that daily aerobic exercise altered dopamine signaling in the brain in ways that may make alcohol and other substances of abuse less appealing or rewarding. Learn more

Opioid crisis sending thousands of children into foster care

An analysis of foster care systems around the country shows the number of children entering state or foster care rising sharply, especially in states hit hardest by opioid addiction. The children entering state care are younger, and they tend to stay in the system longer, than ever before. Learn more

Kids' exposure to addiction drug rose 215% in three years, study says

More than 11,200 calls concerning children's exposure to buprenorphine, an opioid medication used to treat opioid use disorder, were made to U.S. poison control centers from 2007 to 2016, a new study found. Eighty-six percent of the exposures were in children below the age of 6; 89% of the exposures were unintentional. Learn more

This data brief examines adult mental health-related physician office visits by specialty and selected patient characteristics. Research indicates that during 2012–2014, an estimated annual average of 30 million mental health-related physician office visits were made by adults aged 18 and over. Psychiatrists provided care at 55% of these office visits, primary care physicians at 32%, and other specialists at 13%. Differences in mental health-related visits by physician specialty varied by age, urban–rural status, and primary expected source of payment. Learn more

How The Opioid Crisis Is Depressing America's Labor Force

It's been a decade since the financial crisis drove up the unemployment rate in the U.S. and forced people in the prime of their careers to give up looking for work. Even today, as employers add jobs at a furious pace, the workforce participation rate still hasn't recovered. And now researchers think they know one reason why: the opioid crisis. Learn more

Mental Health Parity at Risk

NAMI recently collaborated with researchers at Georgetown University on a report that provides, for the first time, comprehensive data showing barriers and gaps in mental health and substance use coverage in the individual insurance market prior to the Affordable Care Act (ACA). This report highlights just how bad things were and emphasizes the dangers of turning back the clock. Learn more

Daily cannabis use is on the rise in American adults

Cannabis use may be decreasing among teens, but a new study by researchers at Columbia University's Mailman School of Public Health showed that American adults have increasingly used cannabis daily since 2007. The findings are published online in the Journal of Studies on Alcohol and Drugs. Learn more

FDA approves first generic versions of Suboxone sublingual film, which may increase access to treatment for opioid dependence

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved the first generic versions of Suboxone (buprenorphine and naloxone) sublingual film (applied under the tongue) for the treatment of opioid dependence. Learn more

Yes, You Can Become Addicted to Marijuana. And the Problem is Growing.

Many people are unaware of marijuana addiction. But in the public health and medical communities, it is a well-defined disorder that includes physical withdrawal symptoms, cravings and psychological dependence. Many say it is on the rise, perhaps because of the increasing potency of genetically engineered plants and the use of concentrated products, or because more marijuana users are partaking multiple times a day. Learn more

How data scientists are using AI for suicide prevention

At the Crisis Text Line, a text messaging-based crisis counseling hotline, data scientists are using machine learning, a type of artificial intelligence, to pull out the words and emojis that can signal a person at higher risk of suicide ideation or self-harm. The computer tells them who on hold needs to jump to the front of the line to be helped. They can do this because Crisis Text Line does something radical for a crisis counseling service: It collects a massive amount of data on the 30 million texts it has exchanged with users. Learn more

Marijuana legalization is having its best year ever

From Canada to Vermont to Oklahoma to California, this has been a huge year for legalization advocates. Learn more

Questions?

The Hazelden Betty Ford Foundation is a force of healing and hope for individuals, families and
communities affected by addiction to alcohol and other drugs. It is the nation's largest
nonprofit treatment provider, with a legacy that began in 1949 and includes the 1982 founding
of the Betty Ford Center. With 17 sites in California, Minnesota, Oregon, Illinois, New York,
Florida, Massachusetts, Colorado and Texas, the Foundation offers prevention and recovery
solutions nationwide and across the entire continuum of care for youth and adults.